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Former Kiwis captain Benji Marshall has revealed why he retired from playing in the NRL and how his former coach, Wayne Bennett, was a key factor in the decision.
The current Wests Tigers coach said he planned to join the Gold Coast Titans on a two-year deal after he playedin the 2021 NRL Grand final with the South Sydney Rabbitohs, but told Sky Sport’s League Lounge with Shaun Johnson that Bennett helped to change his mind.
“I actually wasn’t going to retire when I retired,” Marshall told the broadcaster.
“I had literally agreed verbally to go to the Gold Coast for two more years to keep playing.”
Marshall said he spoke with his then-coach before the match and was reminded about what he had achieved in the sport.
“So I actually made the decision for other people. Usually I’m quite selfish and make the decision for myself.”
Marshall said that conversation before the match was enough to make him choose retirement, a decision he decided to not tell anyone until the game was over.
“But looking back now, I sort of wish I kept playing. I still jump into sessions now and think ‘I could still do this’.”
Marshall captained the Kiwis 21 times over his 15-season test career and represented the Tigers, Dragons, Broncos and Rabbitohs in the NRL, winning the Grand Final in 2005 with the Tigers before his 2021 retirement.
Marshall is the coach of Wests Tigers, who sit 10th on the NRL ladder after 10 games, and is one of two New Zealand coaches in the competition alongside Manly’s Kieran Foran.
